Class blog for Anth 249: Evolution and human disease. We will be responding to class readings and engaging with the wider network of blogs and online content on evolutionary medicine. We might also make up some fun projects along the way.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Searcher: A New Battle

[Searcher]

While
reading through this week's chapter readings and previous blog posts by
classmates, I became interested into the topic of oral contraceptives, also
known as "the pill". I came across this article titled “BirthControl: Could it be Illegal Again?” by Adam Cohen on Times.com. This article
talked about how the debate of abortion has been going on for decades, but now
a new battle has emerged. This war is over birth control and if insurance
companies or the government should have to pay for it and even if birth control
should be legal. Even though this article doesn’t talk about the health/biological
aspect of oral contraceptives, it talks about the position birth control is in
in today’s society and government/ politics which I believe is important to
know. In today’s society, condoms are
being handed out for free at clinics, and many young women are taking birth
control pills, sometimes not even to prevent pregnancy but to decrease acne and
the frequency of their menstrual cycle. In other words, oral contraceptives are
very accessible these days. It is hard to say who is winning and both sides are
not backing down. Opponents of birth control such as “Representative Steve
King, Republican of Iowa, warned that if birth control is too readily available
it could destroy America. ‘ If we let our birth rate get down below the
replacement rate, we’re a dying civilization’ King said” (Cohen). Opponents are trying to not let the government
fund birth control. One New Hampshire lawmaker said “If you want to have a
party, have a party, but don’t ask me to pay for it” (as cited in Cohen).

What
do you think about this debate? It is very similar to the pro-life and
pro-choice debate, but one might believe in pro-life but also be a supporter of
birth control. Personally, I believe that birth control is being too easily
accessible these days. I believe that the government should not fund birth control,
but rather be a personal duty. If one wants to have sex, they should buy it
with their own money. I also believe that there should be more strict rules and
age restrictions and such. This is just my opinion… if you have any other,
please reply :]